Heat exchanging system

ABSTRACT

A heat exchanging system includes a frame and at least one heat exchanger. The frame has first and second base members, and first and second sets of crossmembers. The first and second sets of crossmembers extend from the first and second base members, respectively, in opposing directions. The first set of crossmembers engages the second set of crossmembers to form adjoined crossmembers extending between the first and second base members. The crossmembers define at least one window between the first and second base members. The first set of crossmembers is adjustable relative to the second set of crossmembers to increase or decrease a length of each window between the first and second base members. The at least one heat exchanger is disposed within the at least one window.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to heat exchangers, particularly to tubeand fin type heat exchangers.

BACKGROUND

Tube and fin heat exchangers may be utilized to transfer heat between afluid flowing through the tubes of the heat exchanger and air that isbeing directed across the fins of the heat exchanger.

SUMMARY

A carrier frame for a heat exchanger includes a first sub-frame and asecond sub-frame. The first sub-frame has a first base member and afirst plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers extending from the firstbase member in a first direction. The second sub-frame has a second basemember and a second plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers extendingfrom the second base member in a second direction that is opposite tothe first direction. Each crossmember of the first plurality ofspaced-apart crossmembers is configured to engage one crossmember of thesecond plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers to form adjoinedcrossmembers that extend from the first base member to the second basemember. The crossmembers define windows between the first and secondbase members that are each configured to receive a heat exchanger. Thefirst plurality of crossmembers is adjustable in the first and seconddirections relative to the second plurality of crossmembers to increaseor decrease a length of each window between the first and second basemembers.

A heat exchanging system includes a frame and at least one heatexchanger. The frame has first and second base members, and first andsecond sets of crossmembers. The first and second sets of crossmembersextend from the first and second base members, respectively, in opposingdirections. The first set of crossmembers engages the second set ofcrossmembers to form adjoined crossmembers extending between the firstand second base members. The crossmembers define at least one windowbetween the first and second base members. The first set of crossmembersis adjustable relative to the second set of crossmembers to increase ordecrease a length of each window between the first and second basemembers. The at least one heat exchanger is disposed within the at leastone window.

A heat exchanging system includes a frame and a window. The frame hasfirst and second base members and interlocking crossmembers. Theinterlocking crossmembers extend between the first and second basemembers. The interlocking crossmembers define a window between the firstand second base members. The interlocking crossmembers are adjustable toincrease or decrease a length of the window between the first and secondbase members. The heat exchanger is disposed within the window.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a heat exchanger;

FIG. 2 is a back view of a heat exchanging system that includes aplurality of heat exchangers and a carrier frame;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the heat exchanging system;

FIG. 4 is an isometric front view the carrier frame;

FIG. 5 is a magnified view of a portion of the carrier frame thatincludes a fastening system that is utilized to secure first and secondsub-frames of the carrier frame to each other and allows for adjusting adesired length of the carrier frame;

FIG. 6 is a magnified view of a clip that is utilized by the fasteningsystem to secure the first and second sub-frames of the carrier frame toeach other;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 5; and

FIGS. 8-10 are magnified views of various clips on the carrier framethat are configured to secure the positions of the heat exchangers onthe carrier frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to beunderstood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examplesand other embodiments may take various and alternative forms. Thefigures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggeratedor minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore,specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not tobe interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis forteaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the embodiments. Asthose of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various featuresillustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures maybe combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures toproduce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described.The combinations of features illustrated provide representativeembodiments for typical applications. Various combinations andmodifications of the features consistent with the teachings of thisdisclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications orimplementations.

Referring to FIG. 1, a heat exchanger 20 is illustrated. Please notethat FIG. 1 is a simplified drawing and that the respective componentsdescribed in FIG. 1 may have other features or different geometries thanillustrated in FIG. 1. The heat exchanger 20 includes a first headertank 24 and a second header tank 26. A first header 22 is secured to thefirst header tank 24 and a second header 22 is secured to the secondheader tank 26. Each header 22 may include a face plate 21 and anexterior peripheral wall 23 that extends from the face plate 21 along abend. The face plate 21 and the exterior peripheral wall 23 may be madefrom a common stock component, such as a flat piece of sheet metal. Someembodiments may not include the exterior peripheral wall 23.

Each header 22 defines a plurality of orifices. More specifically, eachheader plate 21 of each header 22 defines a plurality of orifices. Aplurality of tubes 30 extend between the first header tank 24 and thesecond header tank 26. More specifically, a first end of each of thetubes 30 extends into a respective one of the plurality of orifices ofthe first header 22 while a second end of each of the tubes 30 extendsinto a respective one of the plurality of orifices of the second header22. Each of the plurality of tubes 30 may extend into and may be securedto the headers 22, or more specifically may extend into and may besecured to the face plates 21, by brazing each tube 30 to the headers 22proximate the respective orifices that the first and second ends of thetubes 30 extend into. The plurality of tubes 30 are configured tochannel a coolant, a refrigerant, or any other heat exchanging liquid orgas between the first header tank 24 and the second header tank 26.Coils or fins 32 are disposed between adjacent tubes 30 forming an arrayof alternating tubes 30 and fins 32. The fins 32 facilitate heattransfer between the liquid or gas that is flowing through the pluralityof tubes 30 and air that is being directed across the heat exchanger 20.

A pair of side plates 34 may be disposed on opposing ends of the arrayof alternating tubes 30 and fins 32. Each side plate 34 may be adjacentto the last set of fins 32 forming the array of alternating tubes 30 andfins 32 (as illustrated in FIG. 1) or may be adjacent to the last tube30 forming the array of alternating tubes 30 and fins 32. The sideplates 34 may extend between the first and second headers 22 and may besecured to the first and second headers 22 by a brazing or weldingprocess.

It should be noted that the first header tank 24 and the first of theheaders 22 may be formed as a single component that are not distinctfrom each other and that the second header tank 26 and the second of theheaders 22 may be formed as a single component that are not distinctfrom each other. For example, a single tube, pipe, tank, reservoir, etc.that defines orifices that receive each of the plurality tubes 30 may beutilized in place of the first header tank 24 and the first of theheaders 22 and/or may be utilized in place of the second header tank 26and the second of the headers 22. It should be understood that the heatexchanger 20 depicted in FIG. 1 is for illustrative purposes and thatFIG. 1 is a general representation of a heat exchanger. Heat exchangershaving different geometries, additional components, or fewer componentsshould be construed as disclosed herein.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, a heat exchanging system 100 that includes aplurality of heat exchangers that are secured to a carrier frame 102 isillustrated. The plurality of heat exchangers may be tube and fin heatexchanges, which are described above with respect to FIG. 1. A firstheat exchanger 104 may be an oil cooler for a vehicle transmission, asecond heat exchanger 106 may be a condenser for an air conditioning orHVAC system for a vehicle, and a third heat exchanger 108 may be alow-temperature radiator that is configure to cool vehicle electronics(e.g., an inverter for a hybrid vehicle that delivers electrical powerfrom a battery to an electric motor). However, the disclosure should notbe limited to the types of heat exchangers describe immediately above,and it should be construed that the first heat exchanger 104, secondheat exchanger 106, and third heat exchanger 108 may be utilized in anyknown system. Header tanks 110 may be secured to each side of the firstheat exchanger 104.

Each heat exchanger (i.e., the first heat exchanger 104, second heatexchanger 106, and third heat exchanger 108) are secured to the carrierframe 102. The carrier frame 102 includes a first sub-frame 112 and asecond sub-frame 114. The first sub-frame 112 has a first base member116 and a first plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 118 extendingfrom the first base member 116 in a first direction 120. The secondsub-frame 114 has a second base member 122 and a second plurality ofspaced-apart crossmembers 124 extending from the second base member 122in a second direction 126. The first direction 120 and second direction126 may be opposing or opposite directions relative to each other. Thefirst plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 118 and the secondplurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 124 may also be referred to as afirst set of crossmembers and a second set of crossmembers,respectively. Each cross member of the first plurality of spaced-apartcrossmembers 118 engages one of the crossmembers of the second pluralityof spaced-apart crossmembers 124 to form adjoined or interlockingcrossmembers 128 that extend between the first base member 112 and thesecond base member 114. The crossmembers 118, 124 are secured to eachother by a fastening system that is described in further detail below.

Each crossmember of the first plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 118may be substantially parallel relative to each other and may besubstantially perpendicular to the first base member 116. Eachcrossmember of the second plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 124 maybe substantially parallel relative to each other and may besubstantially perpendicular to the second base member 122. Eachcrossmember of the first plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 118 maybe substantially parallel to each crossmember of the second plurality ofspaced-apart crossmembers 124. The interlocking crossmembers 128 may besubstantially perpendicular to the first base member 116 and to thesecond base member 122 and may be substantially parallel relative toeach other. The first base member 116 and to the second base member 122may be substantially parallel relative to each other when the firstplurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 118 engage the second pluralityof spaced-apart crossmembers 124 to form the interlocking crossmembers128. Substantially perpendicular may refer to any value that rangesbetween exactly perpendicular and 15° from exactly perpendicular.Substantially parallel may refer to any value that ranges betweenexactly parallel and 15° from exactly parallel.

The interlocking crossmembers 128 define windows 130 between each otherand between the first base member 116 and the second base member 122.The windows 130 are each configured to receive a heat exchanger. A firstwindow 132 of the windows 130 houses the first heat exchanger 104 (i.e.,the first heat exchanger 104 is disposed in the first window 132). Thefirst window 132 is defined between an uppermost and a lowermost of theinterlocking crossmembers 128, and is defined between the first basemember 116 and the second base member 122. A second window 134 of thewindows 130 houses the second heat exchanger 106 (i.e., the second heatexchanger 106 is disposed in the second window 134). The second window134 is defined between a second to the uppermost and the lowermost ofthe interlocking crossmembers 128, and is defined between the first basemember 116 and the second base member 122. A third window 136 of thewindows 130 houses the third heat exchanger 108 (i.e., the third heatexchanger 108 is disposed in the third window 136). The third window 136is defined between two centrally located interlocking crossmembers 128(i.e., the interlocking crossmembers 128 that define the third window136 are located between the uppermost and lowermost of the interlockingcrossmembers 128), and is defined between the first base member 116 andthe second base member 122.

The windows 130 may be stacked and offset relative each other in adirection 138 that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction120, the second direction 126, the first plurality of spaced-apartcrossmembers 118, the second plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 124,and/or the interlocking crossmembers 128. Substantially perpendicularmay refer to any value that ranges between exactly perpendicular and 15°from exactly perpendicular.

The first sub-frame 112 includes a first plurality or first set ofsupport members 140 that adjoin ends of the crossmembers of firstplurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 118 to each other, wherein theadjoined ends of the crossmembers of the first plurality of spaced-apartcrossmembers 118 are opposite relative to the first base member 116. Thesecond sub-frame 114 includes a second plurality or second set ofsupport members 142 that adjoin ends of the crossmembers of secondplurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 124 to each other, wherein theadjoined ends of the crossmembers of the second plurality ofspaced-apart crossmembers 124 are opposite the second base member 122.The first set of support members 140 provide structural support to andmaintain the substantially parallel arrangement of the first pluralityof spaced-apart crossmembers 118. The second set of support members 142provide structural support to and maintain the substantially parallelarrangement of the second plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 124.

The first plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 118 and the secondplurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 124 are adjustable in the firstdirection 120 and the second direction 126 relative to each other toeither increase or decrease a length L of each window 130 between thefirst base member 116 and the second base member 122. Stated in otherterms the interlocking crossmembers 128 are adjustable in the firstdirection 120 and the second direction 126 to either increase ordecrease a length L of each window 130 between the first base member 116and the second base member 122.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, a fastening system that is configured tosecure each crossmember of the first plurality of spaced-apartcrossmembers 118 to a crossmember of the second plurality ofspaced-apart crossmembers 124 to form the interlocking crossmembers 128is illustrated. At least a portion of the crossmembers of either thefirst plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 118 or the second pluralityof spaced-apart crossmembers 124 has a plurality of clips 146 that areconfigured to engage crossmembers of the other of the first plurality ofspaced-apart crossmembers 118 or the second plurality of spaced-apartcrossmembers 124 to secure the positions of the first plurality ofspaced-apart crossmembers 118 and the second plurality of spaced-apartcrossmembers 124 relative to each other and to form the interlockingcrossmembers 128. In the illustrated example of FIG. 2 the clips 146 areonly located on the top and bottom interlocking crossmembers 128.However, it should be understood that two or more of the interlockingcrossmembers 128 may include the clips 146 to secure the respectivecrossmembers of the first plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 118 andthe second plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 124 to each other.

More specifically, at least a portion of the crossmembers of the firstplurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 118 or the second plurality ofspaced-apart crossmembers 124 has a plurality of clips 146 and rails148, while at least a portion of the crossmembers of the other of thefirst plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 118 or the second pluralityof spaced-apart crossmembers 124 includes a plurality of tabs 150,defines a plurality of notches 152 on each side of each tab 150, anddefines orifices 154 on a back surface 156 behind each tab 150. Therails 148 are configured to slide between the tabs 150 and the backsurface 156 to guide the crossmembers of the first plurality ofspaced-apart crossmembers 118 into engagement with the crossmember ofthe second plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 124. The clips 146 areconfigured to engage the tabs 150 to secure the positions of the firstplurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 118 and the second plurality ofspaced-apart crossmembers 124 relative to each other and to form theinterlocking crossmembers 128. The clips 146 may be adjusted to engageany tab 150 of an array of tabs 158, which are arranged in the firstdirection 120 and second direction 126, in order to adjust the length Lof each window 130, which allows the carrier frame 102 to be adapted todifferent sized heat exchangers. The clips 146 may include a rampingsurface 147 so that the clips 146 are adjustable in a first directionand may have a flat back surface 149 such the clips 146 are notadjustable in a second opposing direction. The clips 146 may have aresilient or biasing portion 151 that forces the clips 146 into thenotches 152.

It is noted that the clips 146 and tabs 150 are arranged as opposingmirror images on the upper interlocking crossmembers 128 relative to thelower interlocking crossmembers 128. This is to prevent disengagementbetween the first plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 118 and thesecond plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers 124 in a verticaldirection 160.

Referring to FIGS. 8-10, various clips 162 on the carrier frame 10 thatare configured to secure the positions of the heat exchangers to thecarrier frame 10 are illustrated. More specifically, the clips 162 maybe J-hook type clips. The clips 162 may be configured to bend about aresilient or biasing portion 164 when the heat exchangers are beinginstalled onto the carrier frame 102. Once the heat exchangers are fullyinstalled the resilient or biasing portion 164 snaps back and a hookportion 166 traps the heat exchangers between the clips 162 and thespaced-apart crossmembers 118 to secure the heat exchangers to thecarrier frame 102.

It should be understood that the designations of first, second, third,fourth, etc. for any component, state, or condition described herein maybe rearranged in the claims so that they are in chronological order withrespect to the claims.

The words used in the specification are words of description rather thanlimitation, and it is understood that various changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Aspreviously described, the features of various embodiments may becombined to form further embodiments that may not be explicitlydescribed or illustrated. While various embodiments could have beendescribed as providing advantages or being preferred over otherembodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or moredesired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognizethat one or more features or characteristics may be compromised toachieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specificapplication and implementation. As such, embodiments described as lessdesirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations withrespect to one or more characteristics are not outside the scope of thedisclosure and may be desirable for particular applications.

What is claimed is:
 1. A carrier frame for a heat exchanger comprising:a first sub-frame having a first base member and a first plurality ofspaced-apart crossmembers extending from the first base member in afirst direction; and a second sub-frame having a second base member anda second plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers extending from thesecond base member in a second direction that is opposite to the firstdirection, wherein (i) each crossmember of the first plurality ofspaced-apart crossmembers is configured to engage one crossmember of thesecond plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers to form adjoinedcrossmembers that extend from the first base member to the second basemember, (ii) the adjoined crossmembers define windows between the firstand second base members that are each configured to receive a heatexchanger, and (iii) the first plurality of crossmembers is adjustablein the first and second directions relative to the second plurality ofcrossmembers to increase or decrease a length of each window between thefirst and second base members.
 2. The carrier frame of claim 1, whereinat least one of the first and second plurality of spaced-apartcrossmembers has a plurality of clips configured to engage the other ofthe first and second plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers to securepositions of the first and second plurality of spaced-apart crossmembersrelative to each other.
 3. The carrier frame of claim 1, wherein eachcrossmember of the first plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers aresubstantially perpendicular to the first base member.
 4. The carrierframe of claim 3, wherein each crossmember of the second plurality ofspaced-apart crossmembers are substantially perpendicular to the secondbase member.
 5. The carrier frame of claim 4, wherein each crossmemberof the first and second pluralities of spaced-apart crossmembers aresubstantially parallel to each other.
 6. The carrier frame of claim 1,wherein the windows are stacked in a direction that is substantiallyperpendicular to the first and second directions.
 7. The carrier frameof claim 1, wherein the first sub-frame includes a first set of supportmembers that adjoin ends of the crossmembers of the first plurality ofspaced-apart crossmembers to each other, wherein the ends of thecrossmembers of the first plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers areopposite the first base member.
 8. The carrier frame of claim 1, whereinthe second sub-frame includes a second set of support members thatadjoin ends of the crossmembers of the second plurality of spaced-apartcrossmembers to each other, wherein the ends of the crossmembers of thesecond plurality of spaced-apart crossmembers are opposite the secondbase member.
 9. A heat exchanging system comprising: a frame having,first and second base members, first and second sets of crossmembersextending from the first and second base members, respectively, inopposing directions, wherein (i) the first set of crossmembers engagesthe second set of crossmembers to form adjoined crossmembers extendingbetween the first and second base members, (ii) the adjoinedcrossmembers define at least one window between the first and secondbase members, and (iii) the first set of crossmembers is adjustablerelative to the second set of crossmembers to increase or decrease alength of each window between the first and second base members; and atleast one heat exchanger disposed within the at least one window. 10.The heat exchanging system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the firstand second sets of crossmembers has a plurality of clips configured toengage the other of the first and second sets of crossmembers to securepositions of the first and second sets of crossmembers relative to eachother.
 11. The heat exchanging system of claim 9, wherein eachcrossmember of the first set of crossmembers are substantiallyperpendicular to the first base member.
 12. The heat exchanging systemof claim 11, wherein each crossmember of the second set of crossmembersare substantially perpendicular to the second base member.
 13. The heatexchanging system of claim 12, wherein each crossmember of the first andsecond sets of crossmembers are substantially parallel to each other.14. The heat exchanging system of claim 9, wherein the at least onewindow includes at least two windows that are stacked in a directionthat is substantially perpendicular the first and second sets ofcrossmembers.
 15. The heat exchanging system of claim 9, wherein theframe includes a first set of support members that adjoin ends of thecrossmembers of the first set of crossmembers to each other, wherein theends of the crossmembers of the first set of crossmembers are oppositethe first base member.
 16. The heat exchanging system of claim 15,wherein the frame includes a second set of support members that adjoinends of the crossmembers of the second set of crossmembers to eachother, wherein the ends of the crossmembers of the second set ofcrossmembers are opposite the second base member.
 17. A heat exchangingsystem comprising: a frame having, first and second base members,interlocking crossmembers extending between the first and second basemembers, wherein (i) the interlocking crossmembers define a windowbetween the first and second base members, and (ii) the interlockingcrossmembers are adjustable to increase or decrease a length of thewindow between the first and second base members; and a heat exchangerdisposed within the window.
 18. The heat exchanging system of claim 17,wherein the interlocking crossmembers are secured to each via aplurality of clips to secure the positions of the interlockingcrossmembers at a desired length of the window.
 19. The heat exchangingsystem of claim 17, wherein the interlocking crossmembers aresubstantially perpendicular to the first and second base members. 20.The heat exchanging system of claim 17, wherein the interlockingcrossmembers are substantially parallel relative to each other.